Aubertine on Championship State Fair Celebrity Cow Milking Team

Team of state officials and Onondaga County Dairy Princess win milk off by about a 2-1 margin

SYRACUSE (August 31, 2009)—A team of milkers that included New York State Senate Agriculture Chair Darrel J. Aubertine won the Celebrity Cow Milking Contest today at the New York State Fair to benefit Coaches Vs. Cancer

“It’s good to get back in the saddle again,” said Sen. Aubertine, who retired as a dairy farmer after he was elected to the state Assembly in 2002, but continues to raise livestock and grow crops on his Cape Vincent Farm. “It was a fun competition for a good cause, Coaches for Cancer, which (Syracuse Basketball Coach) Jim Boeheim is involved in. I’m glad that everyone came out today for this cause. I was very pleased to have had the team I did and to have been a part of this.”

The contest started around 3 p.m. in the coliseum after cattle judging had concluded. The Senator’s team featured New York State Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Patrick Hooker, State Fair Director Dan O’Hara, State Fair Deputy Director Matt Morgan, and Onondaga County Dairy Princess Erin Rohe. This team beat out a team from Byrne Dairy and a Coaches Versus Cancer team of Syracuse area coaches that was to feature Coach Boeheim, though traffic prevented his arrival.

Today is dairy day at the fair, and Sen. Aubertine has spent the day with farmers, attending events and looking at the prize winning livestock.

“There were some fabulous animals here and I had a chance to look at them as well today,” Sen. Aubertine said. “It’s really great to see New York’s best in Agriculture on show for the public and have this opportunity to talk to the farmers here today.”

The contest raised $2,500 for Coaches Versus Cancer, thanks to a donation by Byrne Dairy.